Ukraine mocks Trump with 7 word jibe and meme after lethal air base attack

Ukrainians could not resist the temptation to mock Donald Trump after Kyiv launched a devastating attack on Russian air bases on Sunday. The coordinated strikes are reported to have inflicted some £5 billion worth of damage on Russia's air force.

Ukrainian intelligence claims some 40 Russian planes including strategic bombers were destroyed in the surprise drone attack. The attack sent shockwaves through the Kremlin and has stunned the world, as Ukraine proved again it is able to hit Putin's army hard inside Russia.

Ukrainians celebrated the audacious military operation, with many taking the opportunity to have a dig at the US President.

Trump has repeatedly taken a tough line with Zelensky, blaming him for starting the war, suggesting Ukraine was on the verge of defeat and had "no cards to play".

Following conversation with both warring leaders in February, Trump told a White House press conference: "I've had very good talks with Putin, and I've had not such good talks with Ukraine.

"They (Ukraine) don't have any cards, but they play it tough. But we're not going to let this continue."

Making gleeful reference to the card analogy, the Business Ukraine journal posted a pithy seven word jibe at Trump.

"Today Zelensky played the King of Drones," they wrote following news of the aerial strikes.

Illia Ponomarenko, a Ukrainian defence journalist, made a pointed reference to Zelensky's public humiliation in the Oval Office.

"This is what happens when a proud nation under attack doesn't listen to all those: 'Ukraine has only six months left'. 'You have no cards'. 'Just surrender for peace, Russia cannot lose'."

At the same time a meme soon spread through social media showing a defiant President Zelensky wearing his very own suit of cards.

The Ukrainian leader was infamously berated for turning up to his White House meeting in his military fatigues - something he has done ever since the full-scale war broke out.

Russian and Ukrainian officials met for a second time in Istanbul, as they once again attempted to kick start peace negotiations.

Russia said it had offered a "partial ceasefire" for a two to three day period to allow both armies to collect the bodies of their fallen soldiers.